Meditation and Thankfulajolla Sports Club
We’ll just come right out and say it: we’re focusing on being thankful this month. First up, we’re thankful that there are so many websites and blogs that are also being thankful, so we can just copy / paste this puppy and go on our way (#1)… kidding… or are we??? Nah, we’re thankful for the truth (#2 [focusing on being thankful helps bring awareness to being thankful]).
Oh, goodness, it seems like just last month was October, where we celebrated people around town doing some good things for other people. From the Save the Women campaign to the Art and Wine Festival to Las Patronas, we realized right away that we are surrounded by some incredibly caring people. Which we are thankful for (#3).
Which leads us to this month and focusing on what really drives you when things get tough. The holidays are coming. The in-laws are coming. You will inevitably be pulled too many directions. You will feel as if you do not have enough time. And according to our very own La Jolla Sports Club Personal Trainer and meditation guru, Bram Wiley, this is the time to make time for yourself.
Bram runs our meditation classes Mondays @ 4pm and Thursdays @ 9am. If you have yet to make it to one of his classes, do yourself a favor and make the time. Bram chooses a different theme for each of his guided meditations and winds down the classes by discussing what each of the participants are thankful for. La Jolla Sports Club is thankful for Bram (#4).
Some of the earliest recorded meditation is dated from 2600-1500 BCE–there is a reason why it is not only still around, but gaining popularity in our ever-quickening lives. Some of the more well-known meditation benefits include reducing stress, depression and blood pressure; increasing awareness, focus and creativity; and improving empathy, kindness and compassion. That’s just to name a few! You can scour the Internet for this information, or pop on over here. We’re thankful for easy-to-read lists (#5).
The best news about meditating is that you do not need anything but a quiet spot to focus on breathing. In Bram’s About Town article, he recommends starting easy and not being too hard on yourself right off the bat: ‘If you went running for the first time, you wouldn’t expect to immediately be in great shape. But after a month of running two to three times a week, you’d start to see some benefits. It’s the same thing with meditating.’
So, start now. Yes, now. It’s easy, just close your eyes and breathe for one minute. Zen Habits has some great tips for getting started.
How much do you love Bram and his classes? What are you thankful for? Leave a comment below!
OK, that’s it for now, but be sure to check back in next week where we celebrate Veteran’s Day and workout with our own Army veteran and Customer Service Manager, Spencer Herrstrom. We’re thankful you stopped by (#6)!
// Your La Jolla Sports Club team
